Although CPR is proven to cause a great effect to the person’s survival, it is still important to remember that the use of external defibrillators is as important as performing CPR. This machine is designed to stop the victim’s heart and restore it back to its normal rhythm, making the person conscious and alive once again.

That is why most medical experts promote the use of AED in several healthcare settings, especially those institutions that acquire a great number of people such as workplaces, schools and even the household. This may seem optional but considering one in your place can be a game changer for you and your family because you will never know when exactly a cardiac emergency may occur.

Importance of Safe AEDs

OSHA has been promoting the use and availability of an external defibrillator in several workplaces to immediately respond in cardiac emergencies. However some defibrillators are often suffering from defects making it unable to use.

As an employer or employee, you might one to check the following factors that contribute to the defects found in AEDs and take action on it immediately.

Engineering Issue.One of the common problems on AED is allowing a voltage-monitoring circuit to take power from the source it monitors causing the device to be unable to give a shock.

Manufacturer Negligence. Most manufacturers do not notify the users when certain changes are made as soon as they have repaired small problems within the machine.

Improper Maintenance.In workplaces, the employer is required to assign a person in-charge of maintaining the defibrillators in good condition. As reported by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, almost half of the AED failures are caused by cables, pads and batteries issues found in the device.

Device Design and Manufacturing Defects.Faulty components, software issues and poorly written instruction contribute a lot to the malfunctions that an external defibrillator causes.

When the victim suffers from further injuries or death, manufacturers of the machine may be deemed responsible for this and might be taken to a legal action. This goes the same for the person who is responsible for the device’s maintenance.

For you to be able to maximize the use of AED, it is necessary to take a CPR/AED course online. American CPR Care Association offers this type of course here at cprcare.com.